Grizzly Orienteering Essentials: Learn to Orienteer!

This two-week learning experience consists of 3 classroom sessions and 3 sessions of applied

outdoor practice on basic orienteering courses. The course is designed for those new to orienteering and for those who want to hone their basic skills to increase their comfort and confidence in map reading, route finding, compass skills, and more.

The schedule is as follows: Monday, May 4, 5:30-7:00pm - Session I (Classroom)

Wednesday, May 6: 5:30-7:00pm - Session 2 (Field: UM Campus)

Saturday, May 9: 9am-1pm - Sessions 3 and 4 (Classroom and Field: Lubrecht Forest)

Monday, May 11, 5:30-7:00pm - Session 5 (Classroom)

Wednesday, May 13: 5:30-7:00pm - Session 6 (Field: Pattee Canyon)

Session I–May 4, 2026–Classroom

• Welcome to Orienteering

  • Description of course

  • Location for Outdoor Practices

• Basic Map Reading

  • Colors

  • Symbols

  • Basic Route Finding

  • Rules and Etiquette

• Comparison between Maps and Actual Terrain

• Basic Compass Use

  • What it is and isn’t used for

  • How to Navigate without a Compass

Session II–May 6, 2026

Group Score-O at University of Montana:

• Map Reading on Location

• Using Compasses and Landmarks to Identify Direction

• Building Observation Skills

• Strategies for Route Finding

Session III–May 9, 2026–Classroom

• Examining a Course Map–Lubrecht Forest

• Comparison between Map and Actual Terrain

• Route Finding Exercises

• LiveLox Examples

• Next Level Compass Skills Practice

Session IV–May 9, 2026

Guided Advanced Beginner Course–Lubrecht Forest

• Guided Course Completion

• Modeled Thinking on Route Selection

• Observation of Terrain vs. Map

• Participant Strategy Sessions

• Compass Use with a Map

• Extra Courses Available as Part of Grizzly Orienteering Event

Session V–May 11, 2026–Classroom

• Individual Route-Finding Practice

• Increased Compass Information

• Orienteering Bigger Picture

  • Resources for Gear and Information

  • Event Information

Session VI–May 13, 2026

Choose Your Own Advanced Beginner Foot-O–Pattee Canyon

Meet at:

• Compass, Map, and Strategy Review

• Choose Your Own:

  • Guided Foot-O Course with assistance from Instructors OR

  • Wing It! On Your Own

• Debrief and Final Questions/Answers